A roll-based printer and method of loading the same is presented. The method comprises: sliding a roll of print media onto a print media spindle so that the roll of print media is positioned closer to a first end of the print media spindle than a second end of the print media spindle; loading the spindle onto a supporting assembly so that the spindle is rotatably supported by the supporting assembly and the first end of the print media spindle is at the end of the printer which is opposite to an end of the printer having a media detecting unit for detecting the presence of print media being fed to the printer; feeding the print media to the printer from the loaded spindle; detecting the position of an edge of the print media fed to the printer; and adjusting a starting position of the print head based on the detected position of an edge of the print media.